I changed out some skirts on several of my spinner baits with some round silicone skirts. They are the kind that have a holder about half way between the ends, so the skirt comes out around the lead head  and also back along the hook.

 Is this one of those things that just comes down to IMO (doesn't everything ;D)? The skirts hang about 1 1/2" from the back of the hook and I notice that factory skirts are a lot shorter. Just wondering if you folks that make your own have a prefrence?

                                                    As Ever,

                                                     Skillet

skirt length is mostly preference, I like mine the shorter the better :).... I mean on spinner baits of course .

I have found in trial and error that you get fewer short strikes on a shorter skirt, I it makes the fish get closer to the hook to actually eat the bait rather than eat just the skirt.  I have even left a few of the strands near the center of the skirt as it flairs a little longer to resemble a trailer on certain baits. This is only my preference though, good ole trail and error never hurts to find out what might work best in your waters.

Harshman

harshman what do you usually do for jigs? Do you cut the skirt right up to the hook?

on jigs I usually leave  1/4 to 1/2 of an inch depending on the size of the jig and trailer I am using. If it is a smaller jig less skirt , bigger longer and if I am using a trailer I try to cut the skirt accordingly not to cover up the trailer.

Harshman

I am with harshman on the spinnerbaits I cut the skirts up to the bottom of the hook. For jigs if its a heavy flippin jig I let the skirt hang down 1/2 to 3/4 of a inch but on light weight swim jigs or finesse jigs I trim the skirts up to 1/4 of a inch of the hook.

99% of my skirts are cut behind the hook about 1/4"  Jigs and S/B

What they said.

Kelley

It all depends on the profile you are trying to make? If it is muddy water I would say leave it alone and add a trailer hook. For clear water I like to create a smaller profile so I would shorten and thin the skirt.

Allen